UK tops G7 broadband availability league

Britain has better broadband availability than any other G7 nation, the government has claimed today.

"The UK now has the most extensive broadband market in the G7," said Mike O'Brien, minister of state for energy and e-commerce.

Speaking at today's opening of the fourth Asia-Europe Meeting on e-commerce in London's Docklands, O'Brien added that only four per cent of the UK's population is now unable to get broadband.

"We said we wanted the UK to be the best place in the world for e-business and, with broadband now available to 96 per cent of households and more than six million people already subscribing, this is fast becoming a reality," he said.

The minister called for deeper dialogue between Europe and Asia in a bid to develop greater co-operation and agreement on e-commerce standards.